San Dimas Choir, directed by Jared Pugh, joined the University of La Verne, directed by Dr Clarissa Shan, in a concert on December 7th, in ULV’s Founders Hall. The two choirs each performed their own full concert set, then combined to sing Vivaldi’s Gloria, a 12-movement piece lasting a continuous 30 minutes.
“I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to collaborate with our fellow university,” harped Pugh. Just as every music teacher dreams, his students were given a chance to improve their skills by working with people who performed and worked at a “higher level of professionalism.”
While they were onstage, Chamber sang the songs Sing We Now of Christmas, and Carol of the Bells. Once they finished their own short set, they retreated back down the stairs of the stage and waited for the next turn to sing; and this time it would be Gloria.
Vivaldi’s Gloria is a masterwork; not just meaning that its good (and that would be an extreme understatement), it means that it’s hard. Merriam-Webster defines a masterwork as a “Masterpiece”, but the music world defines it as a staple of one’s career. Most musicians advanced enough to understand what a masterwork is– let alone being able to sing it– take extreme pride in their performance of it, aware of such a piece’s importance.
Among the singers was senior Xyle Abaya. Abaya is this year’s Student Conductor, a role reserved for the department’s most efficient musician. “Learning a masterwork for the first time has been an amazing educational experience,” she said. One of the strongest attributes that had carried all four years has been her music theory, something the previous student conductor, Soft Washburn(Alumni), praised her for. What made performing Gloria so incredible wasn’t just the music itself, it was the educational experience of it. “Our sight reading, collaboration, and attitudes improved drastically, and just overall, I was excited for the choir to show off everything we’ve learned for the past few weeks.”
These students have gained experience and knowledge, through the singing, and learning of Vivaldi’s Gloria.
